Not specifically related to the Catholics but in general, I've started to second guess my romantic view of the Russian Church. I'm afraid, as much as I'd like it to be otherwise, that his comment that the church is more or a tool for Putin than the kingdom of God, is more likely than not. And the xenophobic nature of the oppression of other Christian denominations from the Patriarchate is bound to harm rather than help the church (i.e. her people).

I'm not sure what to say about it all but, thanks be to God for the ROCOR.

Really good article, Luke - thanks! Liked it so much it's linked on my site.

The most telling thing I found was the observation that while Catholics see the Orthodox as traditionalist allies (and why not?), ironically the Orthodox in Russia most friendly to Catholics are not the desirable ones but rather the goofy dissenters who want modernism to spread Eastward. The desirable traditionalist types, probably very holy, alas, are also often very anti-Catholic. Reminds me of what I've heard of the Muslim world, where to hormone-fuelled Arab boys 'Christian literature' doesn't mean Bibles and catechisms but copies of Hustler. So it seems, according to this article, with some Russians' liking of 'the West' in whatever (Catholic, Protestant) form.